RB Leipzig vs Dortmund – News and Probable Lineups

Fans are in for an exciting matchup this Saturday evening as RB Leipzig hosts Borussia Dortmund at the Red Bull Arena in what promises to be an intense clash.

Die Roten Bullen have struggled recently, while Dortmund aims to extend their impressive 15-match unbeaten streak in the Bundesliga.

Match overview

RB Leipzig hinted at a potential title challenge early in the season with seven wins out of their first nine Bundesliga matches, but that strong form has since faded.

Under Ole Werner’s guidance, the team has shifted their focus from title aspirations to merely trying to secure a top-four finish, a target that now appears challenging after achieving only three victories in their last nine league matches.

Last weekend brought further disappointment as Leipzig had to fight back twice to earn a 2-2 draw against a struggling Wolfsburg team.

This result continued a disappointing trend at home, with Werner’s squad accumulating only four points from their last five fixtures at the Red Bull Arena.

On a positive note, Leipzig has an encouraging record against Borussia Dortmund, with four wins in their last six encounters.

Borussia Dortmund has enjoyed a fantastic February, recording four consecutive wins, scoring 11 goals, and keeping two clean sheets.

Niko Kovac and his squad head into the weekend following a 2-0 victory over Atalanta in the Champions League knockout stage at Signal Iduna Park.

Domestically, Dortmund is in the midst of a six-match winning run, which puts them just two wins away from matching the club record.

This impressive run includes a 4-0 thrashing of Mainz 05 last weekend, keeping them merely six points behind league leaders Bayern Munich.

If Bayern Munich stumbles against Eintracht Frankfurt, Dortmund could reduce the gap to just three points with a victory over RB Leipzig. But to achieve this, Die Borussen must break their streak of five consecutive losses at the Red Bull Arena.

RB Leipzig Bundesliga form:

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RB Leipzig form (all competitions):

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Borussia Dortmund Bundesliga form:

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Team News

RB Leipzig will be without their first-choice goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi for Saturday’s crucial fixture due to a knee injury.

Young defender Kosta Nedeljkovic is also out with a back problem, along with Assan Ouedraogo and Suleiman Sani who are sidelined.

Forward Yan Diomande will be a key player for the hosts after delivering several standout performances recently.

Borussia Dortmund, on the other hand, has moved swiftly to strengthen their squad for the next season, announcing the signing of teenage talent Kaua Prates from Brazilian team Cruzeiro on Thursday.

In terms of immediate concerns, head coach Kovac has confirmed the absence of Nico Schlotterbeck for this weekend.

The 26-year-old has recently returned to training after injury but will remain sidelined for this match as a precaution.

Additionally, the visitors are facing other injury concerns with Emre Can (adductor), Filippo Mane (muscle), and Niklas Sule all still unavailable.

RB Leipzig probable starting XI:

Vandevoordt; Baku, Orban, Lukeba, Raum; Gruda, Seiwald, Baumgartner; Diomande, Romulo, Nusa

Borussia Dortmund probable starting XI:

Kobel; Reggiani, Anton, Bensebaini; Ryerson, Sabitzer, Nmecha, Svensson; Brandt, Beier; Guirassy

While RB Leipzig may not be at their best, their strong home record against Borussia Dortmund must be considered.

Conversely, the visitors are without several key defensive players, which may impact their chances.